Polyculture of giant freshwater prawn, rosenbergii, with Indian major : a case study

Item Type article

Authors Vasudevappa, C.; Seenappa, D.; Keshavappa, G.Y.

Download date 05/10/2021 08:06:42

Link to Item http://hdl.handle.net/1834/32407 Journal of the Indian Association 15 29, 2002, 15-21

POLYCULTURE OF GIANT FRESHWATER PRAWN, MACROBRACHIUM ROSENBERG/I. WITH INDIAN MAJOR CARPS - A CASE STUDY

C. Vasudevappa, D. Seenappa and G. Y. Keshavappa Fisheries Research Station, University of Agricultural Sciences, Hesaraghatta, Bangalore - 560 089

ABSTRACT A study conducted in a 450-m2 earthen pond to evaluate the production potential of giant freshwater prawn (stocked at 20,000 juveniles/ha) and Indian major carps, catla and (stocked at 5000 juveniles/ha in 2:1 proportion) revealed that in nine months' growing period, catla and rohu attained average sizes of 357 ang 746 g, respectively, while prawn weighed 48.32 g. The growth of rohu was much faster than catla as indicated by higher relative and absolute weight gains. The total fish production per hectare was estimated t.o be 2418 kg and prawn production stood at 780 kg with excellent survival of both the fish (>98%) and prawn (>80%). Keywords: Polyculture, giant freshwater prawn, Indian major carps

INTRODUCTION

Polyculture of giant freshwater prawn ecological maintenance of pond without along with Indian major carps is becoming affecting the prawn growth. Since the prawn popular compared to monoculture among under polyculture with fish derives its fish farmers due to the high cost of nutrition by utilizing the natural pond management, low survival and differential productivity and left-over fish feed, faecal growth of prawn under monoculture matter of fish, etc., there is no need for a systems (Cohenetal., 1983; Vasudevappa separte high-cost prawn feed. Ahemad et al., 1999). The polyculture of prawn with (1998) while reviewing the progress of fish is commonly practiced in the northen in Orissa has parts of Karnataka, Andhara Pradesh, indicated a stocking density of 10,000- Orissa, West Bengal and Punjab. The 200,000 prawn seed along with 5000 fish presence of fish in a polycu1ture system per hectare for getting good production of serves as a biological control over both fish and prawn. The experiments development of zooplankton, phytoplankton conducted at the Fisheries Research and filamentous algae, which otherwise Station, Hesaraghata, have indicated that result in ecological instability of the pond a stocking density of20,000 prawn juveniles ecosytem (Baissac, 1976; Barnes, 1980). It with 5000 fingerlings of catla and rohu in has been demonstrated that the presence of 2:1 ratio gives better growth and production fish in low stocking densities Improves the of both fish and prawn in a polyculture 16 C. VASUDEVAPPA, D. SEENAPPAAND G. Y. KESHAVAPPA system. Utilizing the results of this oils. The feed had a crude protein of28.42% experiment, a case study ofpolyculture of and fat 6.95%. Feeding was done at 6, 4 prawn with fish in a 450-m2 earthen pond and 3% during the 1st, 2nd and 3rd months was carried out and the details regarding and it was maintained at 2% ofbodyweight biomass growth, survival, size distribution, of fish and prawn during the remaining productin and economics have been worked period. The water quality parameters, viz., out. temperature, dissolved oxygen and pH, were monitored once in a fortnight.

MATERIAL AND METHODS RESULTS AND DISCUSSION An earthen pond of 450m2 area, the sides of which were covered with stone The water quality parameters, mz, slabs (to control lateral seepage) with open temperature (24.50-27.10°0) pH (7.80-8.40) earthen bottom, was utilized for the study. and dissolved oxygen (3.80-8.50 ppm), The pond was drained, dried and limed fluctuated within the desired levels. The using agriculture lime at 250 kg/ha. The details regarding monthly growth, growth pond was manured using 200 kg cow dung, rate, survival, biomass production and size 1 kg urea and 2 kg super phosphate initially, frequency distribution of fish and prawn and a monthly dosage of 100 kg cow dung, are presented'in Tables 1-3. During the 9 0.5 kg urea and 1 kg super phosphate was months' growing period, catla juveniles of applied. The pond was stocked with 150 105 g mean weight grew to a size of357.10 catla and. 75 fohujuveniles (86.7-105.0 g) g while rohu of initial weight of 86.70 d' along with 900 prawn juveniles (0.85-4.80 attained 745.90 g (Fig. 1&2),sluring the g). The fish and prawn stocking density identical rearing period indicati:ng faster. worked 'OUt to be 5000 fish and 20,000 growth ofrohu as compared to ca,tladl'his prawn juveniles, respectively, per hectare. is the result oflow natural foodproduction Fish and prawn were fed on formulated (zooplankton) in the pond due to continuous pelleted feed prepared at the Fisheries seepage of water from pond and greater Research Station using rice bran, density of catla as compared to rohu. groundnut cake, soybean cake, sunflower Besides, the sinking pellets given as food cake, coconut cake, fishmeal and wheat probably would have been better utilized as gluten meal along with fish and vegetable food by rohu than catla. The prawn

Table 1 :Monthly weight gain (%) of fish and prawn in the polyculture system

Initial Absolute Fish/ Relative weight gain in different manths mean wtgain prawn wt 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 (%) Catla 105.0 53.00 21.69 23.07 12.39 9.17 5.05 4.84 3.32 6.31 240.10 Rohu 86.7 82.53 32.70 31.26 30.78 25.02 24.32 7.13 5.81 17.43 760.32 Prawn 2.34 192.74 132.85 62.26. 34.65 17.30 6.65 2.75 2.46 5.27 1964.96 POLYCULTURE OF GIANT FRESHWATER PRAWN, 17 MACROBRACHIUM ROSENBERGII, WITH INDIAN MAJOR CARPS Table 2 : Growth, survival and biomass production of fish and prawn in the polyculture system

Fish/prawn Initial Size Final Survival Total Net Production mean range at mean biomass biomass wt(g) stocking (g) wt(g) (%) (kg) (kg) (kg/ha) Catla 105.0 85-140 357.1 98.67 52.85 37.10 1174.44 Rohu 86.7 74-120 745.9 100.00 55.94 49.44 1243.10 Prawn 2.34 0.85-4.80 48.32 80.78 35.13 33.02 780.67

Table 3: Frequency distribution of prawn, catla and rohu grown in the polyculture system Distribution (%) Size groups (g) Prawn Catla Rohu 20-30 24.22 31-40 23.80 41-50 20.90 51-60 11.20 61-70 3.78 71-80 6.30 81-90 1.54 91-100 2.86 >100 5.40 201-300 17.61 301-400 59.17 401-500 16.28 10.67 501-600 5.68 13.33 601-700 1.26 26.67 701-800 16.00 801-900 16.00 901-1000 5.33 1001-1100 2.67 1101-1200 4.00 1201-1300 5.33 juveniles of initial mean weight 2.34 g grown with channel , the prawn and attained 48.32 g indicating better prawn fish showed a size range of 30 to 72 g and growth in nine months. The size ranges of 315 to 690 g, respectively (Miltner et aLJ catla, rohu and prawn were 230-450 g, 400- 1983; Pavel, 1985). The weight of catla, 1300 g and 25-220 g, respectively. In a rohu, silver and varied polyculture system, whenever prawn was between 187.22 and 267.55 g in a 18 C. VASUDEVAPPA, D. SEENAPPAAND G. Y. KESHAVAPPA

Fig.1 : GroWth of caoa and Rohu :in polycultur& with prawn

700

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-~c 500'' '~ 400 '~'"""·~~~~ J: gt'» 300.•. •:~ 200 ·, '100 0 0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 B 9 :Period (monttuft

Fig.2: Growth of Prawn In Polyculture with Catla and Rohu

0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 Period (months} I .. ,l POLYCULTURE OF GIANT FRESHWATER PRAWN, 19 MACROBRACHIUM ROSENBERGII, WITH INDIAN MAJOR CARPS

polyculture system during 5 months' indicating better production and rearing period (Ahmed and Varghese, 1992). productivity of rohu compared to catla in However, the growth response of prawn this study. The total production per hectare was poor (3. 70 g). works out to 3198.21 kg with fish contributing to 2417.54 kg (75.59%) and The survival ofboth the species offish prawn 780.67 kg (24.41 %). Indian major was almost 100% and it was 80.78% for carps and when grown with prawn, indicating excellent survival offish prawn gave a productions level of 1388- and prawn in a polyculture system. Many 1695 kg in 5-8 months in Orissa (Ahemed, workers have witnessed good survival of 1995). He obtained a prawn production of both fish and prawn in a polyculture system. 250-268 kg/ha. The production offish and Miltner et al. (1983) and Pavel (1985) prawn obtained in the present study are of recorded good survival ofprawnjuveniles much higher order as compared to the fish (above 80%). Abramo et al. (1986) recorded production observed in trials conducted in mean survival rates of 89.40 and 93.30% Orissa. However, much higher fish for catfish and prawn, respectively during production (4982-8217 kg!ha) has been 4 months' growing period. The survival observed by D' Abramo et al. (1986) wh,en rates recorded by Ahmed and Varghese catfish and prawn were cultured together, (1992) for fish and prawn were 75 and 58%, though the prawn production remained low respectively. The observations made in this (125-172 kg/ha). These results show _a study corroborate the earlier observations. possibility of enhancing the fish production In spite ofthe lower density ofrohu as from 2418 kg/ha to a much higher level compared to catla, tl'>e total biomass with proper species combination and contributed byrohu was highest (55.94kg) management. followed by catla (52.85 kg). The prawn The details regarding growth given in biomass was 35.13 kg accounting for about Table 2 indicate higher monthly relative 24.40% of the total biomass (143.92 kg). growth rate ofrohu during the entire nine The biomass offish was 108.79 kg, which months' growing period, as compared to formed 75.60% ofthe total biomass. This catla indicating faster growth of rohu. The indicates that prawn and fish form about overall absolute weight gain was 240.10% 25 and 75%, respectively, of the total for catla and 760.32% in rohu indicating biomass in a polyculture system. Between almost three-folds faster growth of rohu. catla and rohu, catla accounted for 36.70% The growth rate gradually came down with and rohu 38.90% of the total biomass. The increasing growing period. The monthly net biomass also showed a similar trend. relative weight gain remained quite high Keeping in view the percentage contribution during the first four ~onths, and it of catla, rohu and prawn to the total gradually came down and remained low biomass, it was observed that the level of towards the end ofthe growing period. The ·contribution of catla (31.03%) to the net absolute weight gain for prawn was quite biomass came down, while rohu (41.35%) high (1964.96%). and prawn (27.62%) showed an increase 20 C. VASUDEVAPPA, D. SEENAPPAAND G. Y. KESHAVAPPA

The frequency distribution of prawn months and when this is computed for one and fish in different size groups (Table 3) hectare it amounts toRs. 101,313 in nine indicate that majority of catla (59.17%) months, indicating the high profitability of were of size ranging from 301 to 400 g and polyculture of prawn and fish. greater proportion ofrohu (58.67%) ranged From the above results, it can be from 601 to 900 g. Prawns of size 20-50 g inferred that in a polyculture system dominated the catch accounting for 68.92% involving catla, rohu and prawn, a fish Of the total. Prawn above 50 g formed production of about 2500 kg and prawn of 31.08%. about 800 kg/ha in 8-9 months' growing The economics ofpolyculture ofprawn period are possible and profitable. There and fish given in Table 4 indicate a appears to be good scope for further production worth Rs. 5730 and the total enhancement of the fish production by revenue realized was Rs. 10,289. The net suitably modifying the proportion of catla profit was Rs. 4559 from 450 m2 in nine and rohu, and proper pond management.

Table 4 : Economics Rs. of polyculture of fish and prawn in 450-m2 pond in 9 months

Expenditure:

Lime- 10 kg 3.00 Organic manure - 800 kg 400.00 Inorganic fertilizer- 10 kg 50.00 Fish seed (catla- 150: rohu- 75) 450.00 Prawn seed- 900 no. 1800.00 Feed- 250kg 2500.00 Micellaneous 500.00 Total 5730.00

Receipts Sale offish (108.79 kg) at Rs. 30/kg 3263.00 Prawn (35.13 kg) at Rs. 200/kg 7026.00 Total 10,289.00 Net profit 4559.00 Net profitlha 101,313.00 POLYCULTURE OF GIANT FRESHWATER PRAWN, 21 MACROBRA.CHIUM ROSENBERGII, WITH INDIAN MAJOR CARPS

REFERENCES I. Integration into fish polyculture Ahmed, I. and Varghese, T.J., 1992. system. , 21:67-76. Compatibility of Macrobrachium D'Abramo, L.R., Robinette, H.R., rosenbergii (de Man) for polyculture Heinen, J.M., Ra'anan, Z. and with major carps. In: Proceedings of Cohen, D., 1986. Polyculture of National SynJposium on Freshwater freshwater prawn (Macrobrachium Prawns Mar-robrachium species. Cochin rosenbergii) with a mixed size University Science and Technology, population of cham1el catfish (Ictalurus Kochi, pp. 197-199. punctatus).Aquaculture, 59:71-80.

Ahemad, J., 1998. Progress and impact of Miltner, M.R., Granados, A., Romaire, freshwater prawn fisheries development R., Avault, J.W. Jr., Ra'anan, Z. in Orissa state. Fishing Chimes, 18 and Cohen, D., 1983. Polyculture of (3): 19-23. prawn, Macrobrachium rosenbergii, Ahemed, J., 1995. Freshwaer prawn cum with fingerlings of adult catfish, carp culture by farmers in Orissa state: Ictalurus punctatus, and Chinese Areview.FishingChimes, 14(10): 57- carps, Hypophthamichthys molitix, 58. Ctenopharyngodon idella in earthen ponds in South Lousiana, J. World Baissac, P. de. B., 1976 .. Problems caused Maricult. Soc. 14: 127-134. by the occurrence of filamentous algae Spirogyra species in culture ponds of Pavel, D.L., 1985. Polyculture of channel Macrobrachium rosenbergii (de Man) catfish, Ictalurus punctatus, with post in Mauritius. Rev. Agric. Suer. Ille larval and juvenile prawns, Maurice, 53:206-211. Macrobrachium rosenbergii. M.S. Thesis, Lousiana State University, Barnes, A., 1980. Aquaculture of the Baton Rouge, 70 pp. Freshwater Prawn Macrobrachium rosenbergii in Israel. Ecological Vasudevappa, C., Mohire, K.V., Dynamics of Grow-out Ponds and its Vijayakumarswamy and Effect on the Yields and Population Bimalakumari, N., 1999. Polyculture Structure. M.Sc. Thesis. Life Science of giant freshwater prawn, Institute, The Hebrew University of Macrobrachium rosenbergii, with Jerusalem, Jerusalem. 68 pp. Indian major carps, Catla catla and rohita. In: The Fourth Indian Cohen, D. and Ra'anan, Z., 1983. The Fisheries Forum, Proceedings. Asian production of the freshwater prawn Fisheries Society, Indian Branch, Macrobrachium rosenbergii in Israel. Mangalore, 207-210 Pill